vaniaasantos's review against another edition
4.0
Confesso que não estava nada à espera da forma como o livro prossegue e termina.
É um livro que nos deixa a pensar sobre as desigualdades sociais e demonstra o que, acredito eu, todos sabem mas escolhem ignorar: há pessoas que lutam o dobro ou o triplo para conseguirem algo mais na vida.
Aconselho muito este livro, uma bela distropia para nos deixar a pensar e questionar sobre nós próprios também.
É um livro que nos deixa a pensar sobre as desigualdades sociais e demonstra o que, acredito eu, todos sabem mas escolhem ignorar: há pessoas que lutam o dobro ou o triplo para conseguirem algo mais na vida.
Aconselho muito este livro, uma bela distropia para nos deixar a pensar e questionar sobre nós próprios também.
lhhrmn's review against another edition
2.0
This one was just meh for me. It was slow to start & I kept waiting for a big twist, but it never came. The ending was surprising, technically, in that I did not see it coming, but it ultimately fell flat. As others have said, there seemed to be so much potential in the premise of the story, but it just never delivered. It felt a little like OITNB, actually - a small cast of female characters, each with their own small issues, engaging with each other, falling out of favor & reuniting, etc. I wanted so much more from this, but it just kind of sailed along and then away and then was over.
intensej's review against another edition
4.0
Jane is a Filipino immigrant who is struggling to survive in New York. She took her young child, Amalia, and left her husband. In New York, she is trying to find work as a live-in nanny. At first, Jane gets help from Ate, her elder cousin. Ate tells her that she can make all of the money that she needs by being a Host at Golden Oaks. At Golden Oaks, Jane will carry the baby of a wealthy client who cannot have a child for health or personal reasons. At Golden Oaks (the Farm), Jane is exposed to more privileged Hosts: Lisa and Reagan. Lisa and Reagan help expose the truths about Golden Oaks and show that the company merely views them as things that will produce money for their Clients. An interesting look that explores the lives of childcare providers, white privilege, and how far people will go for love/money/family. A must read for Filipino-Americans and fans of dystopian books. Ramos did a great job of showing that every immigrant experience is different.
greergreer's review against another edition
4.0
There seems to be a plethora of dystopian books revolved around women since the rediscover of the Handmaids Tale. Not that is a bad thing but it is a common story line now. Still this was a good story I can't say that I liked the main character and did not have a feeling of remorse in the fact that she was being used but over all I would give this story a review of 4.
clairebartholomew549's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really interesting book that doesn't really go where you think it will, which I enjoyed. I saw a lot of reviews where people thought this book was a thriller and then were disappointed when it didn't really fit that category, and perhaps seeing those before reading The Farm helped my enjoyment because I didn't expect it to twist and turn. There are some mysteries that unfold throughout the book for sure, but there's nothing incredibly nefarious or shocking, which I think is the point. There are already existing surrogacy agencies, and Ramos merely takes that existing commodification of women's bodies, especially that of BIPOC and socioeconomically disadvantaged women, and brings it to its logical conclusion of a capitalist's wet dream. Such a farm could easily exist - maybe it already does - for the ultra-rich and ultra-elite, who run in shadowy circles that are hard to access. The book delves into issues of class and race, and although gender is not as heavily hit on in the book, it is always lurking in the background, highlighted by the fact that all the characters we meet are women, and Leon runs the whole show as a rarely seen CEO. At times Ramos' observations about the worlds we live in based on our class felt a little heavy handed, but ultimately I thought it was a really interesting exploration of what it might take to advance oneself if not born into a life of wealth and stability, and how the wealthy continue to make money by profiting from the labor of the poor.
I appreciated how Ramos doesn't villainize anyone in the story, even those who seem more obviously villains, such as those who work at Golden Oaks. Ramos is clearly more interested in the choices people make with the information they have and the boxes they're put in, and although some of the characters aren't particularly sympathetic, she lets us into their heads to allow us to understand how they got where they did.
This feels like an especially prescient book as women's bodies become increasingly policed in the US and assisted reproductive technology continues to advance.
I appreciated how Ramos doesn't villainize anyone in the story, even those who seem more obviously villains, such as those who work at Golden Oaks. Ramos is clearly more interested in the choices people make with the information they have and the boxes they're put in, and although some of the characters aren't particularly sympathetic, she lets us into their heads to allow us to understand how they got where they did.
This feels like an especially prescient book as women's bodies become increasingly policed in the US and assisted reproductive technology continues to advance.
moonwitch's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
eren_reads's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed the book, but what the hell was that epilogue?
porshainielsen's review against another edition
3.0
Really interesting concept, although if you're looking for Handmaid's Tale good, this one won't be it. This story is probable, likely even to really happen if it isn't already.